High-end performance SUVs are nothing new. In the early 1990s, the GMC Typhoon lifted the fun quotient considerably by delivering a turbocharged 4.3-liter V6 engine, Garrett intercooler, BorgWarner transfer case, and a self-leveling rear suspension. It rivaled the performance of top sports car models of that era, including the Corvette. After the briefest of production runs, the Tycoon and the similar Chevrolet Blazer SS were canceled (seeThe Chevy Blazer is Back, But in Name Only?).

Fast forward a decade and Porsche gave us the Cayenne, the first SUV from this benchmark-setting luxury sports car brand. If you hated the thought of Porsche adding an SUV, you might have been won over by this SUV’s prowess as it has proven to be almost as fast any Porsche sports car, while setting the bar for all performance SUVs.

Red brake calipers are one of many performance touches on this Dodge.

2018 Dodge Durango SRT

Dodge has its own answer to the Cayenne and that’s the 2018 Durango SRT. It is the latest take on Dodge’s midsize, three-row SUV and its most powerful model yet. We probably shouldn’t be all that surprised that there is a Durango SRT. After all, the platform-sharing Jeep Grand Cherokee traces its SRT history to 2006, with the current version rolling out six years later.

What’s so significant about the Durango SRT is that it retains all of its top features, including room for six (captain’s chairs in the middle row instead of a bench seat), utility and towing capabilities — a whopping 8,700 pounds.

What’s so special is what’s under the hood — a 6.4-liter HEMI V8 engine generating 475 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. The good news is that Dodge estimates the Durango SRT can go from 0-60 mph in just 4.4 seconds. The bad news is that you’ll only get 13 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway.

Three rows of seats in every Durango SRT.

Performance Does Not Come Cheap

Cost wise, you’ll need to prepare yourself to pay a $1,000 gas guzzler tax on top of the required premium grade gasoline for each fill up. Moreover, this all-wheel drive model retails for $64,090 (including destination charge) and that’s more than double the cost of the base model.

Cost aside, the Durango SRT is a hoot to drive. My driving partner (Arsis Fruritch) and I secured one at the 2017 WAPA Rally held on Kent Island, Maryland, earlier this month. It was one of the last vehicles we drove for the day, so we managed to get in a little extra time with it. Suffice to say, that the brief spin wasn’t nearly enough. Furthermore, with local police eager to hand out tickets, we had to take extra care not to draw excess attention to what we were doing.

That said, we cast our concerns to the wind, finding a few remote spots on the island to open her up. She complied, by delivering raging potent power accompanied by a raucous exhaust note, immediately bringing me back to the day when a Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT came through my press fleet rotation. Like the Jeep, this one delivers a high-performance suspension with adaptive damping — the better to hang the corners with.

Track lighting for this track-ready SRT SUV.

The Beast Within and Without

The funny thing about the Durango SRT, is that although it looks like a beast (and it is) with its beefy fender flares, hood intake and extractors, and other embellishments, it is still very much a functioning family vehicle. In the recent past, Dodge marketed its Grand Caravan as a “man van” and no one was fooled. On the other hand, in the Durango SRT, you have a vehicle that lives up to all the hype, one that’s certain to attract a niche following.

Before we brought the Durango SRT back, we took note of some of its other features. The requisite red Brembo brake calipers were present. You also have your choice of seven drive modes at the ready — auto, sport, track, snow, tow, valet, and eco. Dodge didn’t skimp on interior materials either with leather seats and tri-zone climate control among the chief features.

All in all, the Durango SRT may offer the best blend of passenger comfort, utility, towing and performance of any SUV out there, even outdistancing the Porsche Cayenne in at least two of the four departments. All this coming from SRT, FCA’s Street & Racing Technology division that’s also brought us Hellcat and Demon.

The Mercedes-Benz brand has remained elusive among my press fleet vehicles, a situation I plan to amend by next year. You simply can’t properly evaluate the market without a steady dose of M-B models to compare with Audi, BMW, and other luxury products.

At the recent 2017 WAPA Rally on Kent Island, Maryland, I had an opportunity to drive the 2018 Mercedes-Benz C 350e, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. Certainly, 45 minutes isn’t enough to give a full evaluation, but it does provide a “first look” overview, which I’m sharing here.

Now in its third year, the C 350e offers a blend of luxury, performance, and efficiency worth exploring. This compact luxury sedan comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and a 60-kilowatt electric motor to deliver 275 combined horsepower. Under hard acceleration, this rear-wheel drive only PHEV goes from 0-60 mph in just 5.8 seconds. Paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, under optimum conditions the C 350e delivers a combined 51 mpg, in part due to its approximate 20-mile electric-only range.

Quite frankly, these are amazing numbers and likely the reason why we’ll see far more PHEV variants in the coming years.The 2018 C 350e costs $47,900 plus $995 for destination.

Exterior Highlights

There’s little difference between the standard C-Class and the PHEV and that’s a good thing. Already a handsome sedan with a long hood and short rear deck, Mercedes-Benz wisely chose to keep this hybrid close to the standard bearer’s looks.

Standard equipment includes 18-inch twin 5-spoke wheels and your choice of 11 colors. Or perhaps what I should say is you have a choice of black and polar white paint schemes with the nine other choices costing an additional $720, $1,080 or $1,515. Wheel and tire upgrades are available as well, costing $1,340 to $3,260 for the seven package options.

Other single options include the following AMG upgrades: rear apron trim ($810), front splitter ($780), rear apron flics ($310), side sill panels ($1,100), and a rear spoiler ($520). It may seem odd to include AMG elements on a PHEV, but that’s something Mercedes-Benz offers.

You can also opt for an Advanced Lighting Package ($800), bringing in active LED headlamps with adaptive high beam assist, a panoramic roof ($1,000), and various accessories.

Interior Highlights

Mercedes-Benz interiors are exquisite and boast an assortment of materials. Standard features include power front seats with driver memory, dual-zone climate control, a high-resolution dashboard, and a 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat.

This five-passenger sedan offers your choice of three cloth or three leather coverings. Further, you can also upgrade to nappa leather, offering two color choices for $3,800 each. Notably, a leather seating package ($1,950) splits that difference and adds driver seat memory for the passenger seat. Four wood trim options are also available.

Individual interior upgrades include heated seats ($580), heated and ventilated front seats ($1,030), a wood/leather steering wheel ($500), and a heated steering wheel ($250). Certainly, there are no lack of upgrade opportunities with this and other Mercedes-Benz models.

Audio and Navigation

Among the entertainment and convenience packages available include a Premium Package with keyless entry and satellite radio ($700), a Navigation and Multimedia Package ($2,200) and a Comfort Package ($750) — adding a power rear and side window sunshades.

Safety and Related Technologies

Standard safety features include nine airbags, a pre-collision system, adaptive braking technology, and a rearview camera. Moreover, you’ll even find a crosswind assist system to help maintain control when a truck passes by or if you are buffeted by high winds.

Package options include a Parking Assist Package with active parking assist and a surround view system ($1,090) and a $2,250 driver assist package, adding lane keep assist, blind spot assist, pedestrian detection and several other safety features. Further, you can also opt for blind spot assist ($550) and active parking assist ($970) separately.

Behind the Wheel: Mercedes-Benz C 350e

I’m not a fan of the stalk-mounted transmission shifter on the 350e. I understand why it’s there — to free up space on the center console. Once I got used to its location, I was able to enjoy the drive.

In fact, Mercedes-Benz utilizes the same engine in the C 300, which produces 241 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque on its own. However, that model gets the 9-speed transmission and offers available all-wheel drive.

Step on the accelerator and the C 350e quietly moves away from a dead stop — battery power gets this sedan going. Press hard on the gas pedal and the engine roars to life, moving this sedan with authority. The steering is crisp, the ride comfortable and the brakes firm with only a minimal amount of “squishiness” detected, thanks to the regenerative braking system.

Parting Thoughts

First looks are just that — long enough to gauge highlights about a vehicle, but not too short to assess as I do for a weekly drive. Still, I like this sedan and see it as one more example of automakers flexing their electrification muscles. The $7,650 price premium over the base model is hard to swallow, but an available $4,043 tax credit closes the gap by more than half.